2011 Volkswagen Jetta TDI Unveiled: Video

The new, roomier 2011 Jetta.

New York— Volkswagen introduced the all-new 2011 Volkswagen Jetta in Times Square this morning to a public audience assembled on a sandy beach and grass lawn. The Jetta goes on sale in the U.S. in October at a base price of just over $16,000, or about $1,500 less than the least-expensive 2010 model.

Before the unveiling, however, Stefan Jacoby, CEO of Volkswagen Group of America, addressed the crowd of onlookers and remarked that the famous intersection was the perfect place to show the car because of its excitement and renown as "a place for new beginnings."

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The new Jetta resembles the NCC concept car that debuted at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit in January, with crisp shoulder lines replacing formerly flabby sheetmetal. With an overall length of 182.7 inches, the new Jetta is about 3.5 inches longer than its predecessor. Its wheelbase has also been stretched, which results in an extra 2.6 inches of rear legroom, at 38.1 inches.

Four different engine options in the U.S. include the 2.5-liter gas engine, a new 2-liter turbodiesel direct injection (TDI) that gets the car to 60 mph in a claimed 8.7 seconds. All Jettas come with a six-speed manual transmission, and the new 2-liter TDI and 2-liter TSI will also offer an optional six-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. In the U.S., S, SE, SEL and TDI versions of the Jetta will be available, as will a 2-liter GLI.